Folding side guard attachment for hospital bed



c. B. HUTT 3,248,744

FOLDING SIDE GUARD ATTACHMENT FOR HOSPITAL BED Filed Dec. 14, 1964 May 3, 1966 up r 11m @N @N mm @N Nm m INVE NTOR. CLYDE B. HUTT ATTO RNEY IlHl.

Patented May 3, 1966 3,248,744 FOLDING SIDE GUARD ATTACHMENT F HOSPHTAL BED Clyde B. Hutt, 601 E. 22nd St., Vancouver, Wash.

Filed Dec. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 417,865 Claims. (Cl. -5 331) The present invention, like that described in my copending application Serial No. 371,333, filed under date of lune l, 1964, entitled Demountable and Adjustable Side Guard Assembly for Hospital Bed, relates to a si-de guard adapted to be attached to a bed, and in particular, a conventional hospital bed, and,A when so attached, capable of being raised into a iirmly secured operative position immediately when needed, and subsequently easily and quickly returned into a lowered inoperative out-ofthe-way position; and this application is a continuationin-part of the co-pending application above mentioned.

An object of the present invention is to provide further improvement and simplification in the construction of a folding guard rail attachment assembly for a hospital bed which will enable the assembly to be changed from lowered inoperative position to raisedand secured operative position, or vice versa, still more easily and quickly by the one who is attending the person confined to the bed.

The improved construction embodying the present invention and the advantages attained by the same will be readily understood from the following brief description and explanation with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing the improved side guard assembly mounted on a conventional hospital bed,

,the assembly being shown in full lines in secured raised position and in broken lines in an intermediate position during the placing of the assembly into the lowered position of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation showing the assembly in the fully lowered position on the b ed;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section on line 3 3 of FIG. l drawn to a larger scale;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section on line 4 4 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, drawn to a larger scale;

FIG.` 5 is a fragmentary section on line 5 5 of FIG. 1, drawn toa larger scale; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary View taken on line 6 6 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, drawn to a larger scale.

In FIG. l the folding side guard assembly is shown mounted on a conventional type of hospital bed B having a composite headboard 10, a footboard 11, and the usual main side rail 12 for the bed frame. The side guard attachment assembly includes a U-shaped main bottom member 13. This main bottom member 13 and therewith the entire side guard assembly, is removably supported on a pair of bracket assemblies 14, which bracket assemblies are clamped onto the bed frame rail 12. The two bracket assemblies 14 are identical, one of them being shown in detail in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 5, each bracket assembly 14 comprises a side plate 14 terminating at the bottom in an inwardly and upwardly turned bottom edge 15, so arranged as to engage the bottom edge of the bed side rail 12. The side plate 14', whichextends up above the outer face of the bed side rail 12, also has a companion inwardly-extending flange 15 so arranged as to engage the top face of the bed side rail 12. A solid bracket arm 16, rigidly secured on the side plate 14 near the bottom, extends outwardly and upwardly so as to provide a firm support rest for the bottom member 13 of the side guard assembly. Each of the bracket assemblies 14 includes a cooperating clamping member 17, as shown in FIG. 5, adapted for engagement with the inner edge of the top face of the bed side rail 12, and this clamping member has threaded engagement with a clamping screw 18 which is rotatably mounted in the top portion of the side plate 14 and has a conventional head portion and knob 19, which head portion engages the outer face of the plate 14'. A

The bottom face of the U-shaped main bottom member 13 of the side guard assembly is formed with a pair of apertures, one of which is indicated at 20 in FIG. 5, to accommodate the top ends of the support bracket arms 16 respectively of the pair of supporting bracket assemblies, and a metal insert 21, secured-inside the member 13 and extending around each aperture is formed with a cooperating socket for receiving the ltop end of the supporting bracket arm 16. A clamping screw 19' is mounted in the bottom member 13 at each of these sockets for the purpose of clamping the bottom member 13, and therewith the entire side guard assembly, onto each of the supporting bracket arms 16. The bottom member 13, and subsequently the entire side guard assembly (with the side guard assembly in lowered position as later explained), is thus mounted lon the bed frame by being set on the pair of bracket arms 16 of the two bracket assemblies, after the latter have been secured in proper location on the bed side rail 12, and the side guard assembly is secured to the bed by the tightening of the clamping screws 19'. Similarly the entire side guard assembly can be completely removed from the bed (when the side guard assembly is in such lowered position) merely by loosening the clamping screws 19 and lifting the entire assembly loff from the bracket arms 16.

A first longitudinally-extending guard rail 22 (FIG. 1), preferably although not necessarily slightly longer than the main bottom member 13 of the side guard assembly, is connected with the bottom member 13 by a pair of parallel hinge links 23 and 24 of equal length. Thus the guard rail 22, the main bottom member 13, and the hinge links 23 and 24 form a collapsible parallelogram construction. The guard rail 22, unlike the other longitudinally-extending guard rails in the side guard attachment subsequently mentioned, is a single integral member, and preferably this guard rail 22 is tubular and circular in cross section.

A top longitudinally-extending guard rail, unlike the lower guard rail 22, is comprised of a pair of companion telescoping members, namely an outer member 25 and a companion member 2S adapted to be slidably .received in the member 25. A pair of end links 26 and 27, which are sirnilar and of identical length, connect the outer ends of members 25 and 25' respectively with the corresponding ends of the lower guard rail 22.

The end link 26 of the guard rail assembly is connected with the member 25 by a simple hinge connection 29. The end link 27 similarly is connected with the member 25 by such a simple hinge connection 30. However, the hinge connection 31 between the link 27 and the lower guard rail 22, and the hinge connection 32 be-V tween the link 26 and the lower guard rail 22 are so arranged as to limit the angularity of these links with respect to the lower guard rail 22 to 90. Thus it will be noted that the hinge 31 (FIG. 1) is positioned a distance above the bottom end of the link 27, and consequently when the link 27 is in thepvertical position of FIG. 1 the bottom en-d of this link bears against a seat 27' (see FIG. 6) in the end of the lower guard rail 22,

thus preventing any further swing of the link .27 in a clockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 1). Similarly the hinge 32 (FIG. 1) is positioned a distance above the bottom end of the link 26, and when this link 26 is in the vertical position the bottom end of the link 26 bears against a similar seat in the adjacent end of the lower guard rail 22 which prevents any further swing of the link 26 in a counter-clockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. l). The reason for these restricted hinge connections between the links 27 and 26 and the bottom longitudinal rail of the side guard assembly will be apparent later.

The side guard assembly also has Van intermediate longitudinally-extending `guard rail, which like the top guard rail, is composed of a pair of telescoping members 23 and 28. These members 4have simple hinge connections 33 and 34 respectively with the end links 26 and 27 respectively at approximately center points along the end links 26 and 27.

A coordinating control coupling bar 35 (FIG. 1) has its upper end pivotally mounted at 36 on the outer member 2S of the intermediate longitudinally-extending telescoping guard rail. This coupling bar 35 is also slidably secured on a headed pin 37 mounted in the lower guard rail 22 and is also similarly slidably secured on a headed pin 38 mounted in the main bottom member 13 of the assembly, these mounting pins 37 and 38 extending through longitudinal slots 37 and 38 respectively in the coupling bar 35. The mounting elements for the coupling bar 35 are so positioned that the bar will be in vertical position when -the lower links 23 and 24 and also the end links 26 and 27 are in vertical position, which occurs when the side guard assembly is in the fully raised position shown in FIG. 1.

A socket member 39 (FIGS. 1 and 3), shaped preferably as shown in FIG. 3, is provided for engaging and holding the end link 26 when the positioning of the side guard assembly into the fully raised position of FIG. 1 brings this end link into vertical position adjacent the side of the headboard 10. This socket member 39 is so formed as to be capable of being rmly clamped onto the side post of the headboard by a suitable screw clamp 40 (FIG. 3) and thus aids in holding the side guard assembly more firmly against any outward thrust from the bed when the side guard assembly is in the fully raised position with the end link 26 in place in the socket pocket.

Locking means is provided for the telescoping members 25 and 25 constituting the top longitudinally-extending guard rail, and the purpose `of such locking means is to secure these telescoping members 25 and 25 in extended position with respect to each other and thus prevent the member 25 from sliding further in the outer member 25. Such locking means is shown in FIG. 4 and includes a spring-mounted button 41 having an inner retaining flange and a rounded outer head end. The locking button 41 extends through -an aperture in the member 25', as shown in FIG. 4, and is designed to extend -through a locking aperture in the member 25 when the button is brought into registration with such aperture in the outer member 25. In such case the spring-mounted button 41 causes the two members 25 and 25 automatically to become locked against further telescoping movement, but enables the member 25' to be slid further into the outer member 25 when the Abutton 41 is manually pressed inwardly against the force of its mounting spring.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the locking button 41 for the top rail members 25 and 25 extends from the outer lateral side of the guard rail assembly. A handle loop 42 is mounted on the side of the member 25 in the location shown. A `flange 43 extends along from the end of the top of this handle loop spaced slightly above the aperture on the member 25 for the locking button 41. When the side guard -assembly is in the fully raised position (as shown in full lines in FIG. 1) the members 25 and 25 will be in extended position and locked together, as previously indicated. Then when it is desired to unlock these members for the purpose of lowering the side guard astendant, by taking hold of the handle loop 42 and pressing the locking button 41 inwardly, can easily slide the member 25 yfurther (to the right as viewed in FIG. 1) over the member 25. The yfact that the locking button 41 is located on the outer face of the guard rail and is located beneath the flange 43, however, makes it very difficult for the patient in the bed to unlock t-he members 25 and '25'.

From FIG. l is will be apparent that since the end link 27 cannot be swung clockwise from the vertical position shown, Ibut can be swung only counterclockwise, then, when the assembly is in the fully raised position, the opposite end link 26 cannot be swung clockwise either unless the members 25, 25 (together with the members 28, l28') are allowed to telescope further, and as long as the members 25, 25 remain in locked position they cannot telescope further. Similarly when the assembly is in the raised position, the link 27 cannot be swung in counterclockwise position as long as the members 25, 25 remain in locked position because the link 26 cannot be swung in counter-clockwise direction from the vertical position. Also it will be noted that the connection of the control coupling bar 35 with the members 28, and 22 prevents the control coupling bar 35 from moving from its vertical position, as shown, as long as the end link 26 remains in vertical position. Furthermore the connection of the control coupling bar 35 with the members 22 and 13 prevents the lower links 23 and 24 from moving out of vertical position as long as the control coupling bar 35 remains in vertical position.

In other words, when the side guard assembly is in the raised position, as shown in full lines in FIG. 1, with the members 25, 25', which form the top guard rail, locked together, it is impossible to move the guard assembly down to lower inoperative position on the side of the bed. However, upon unlocking the members 25, 25 in the manner previously mentioned, in view of the fact that the members 28, 28 forming the middle longitudinally-extending guard rail are free to telescope, the attendant, by sliding the member 25 to the right over member 25', then causes the end link 26, and with it the control coupling bar 35, and also therewith the lower links 23 and 24, to move in clockwise direction, thus momentarily bringing the side guard assembly into the broken line position shownin FIG. l. Furthermore, .the attendant can also now move the end link 27 counter-clockwise while members 26, 23, 35 and 24 continue their clockwise movement, until nally all these members, with the exception of the control coupling bar 35, are brought down into completely horizont-al position and the assembly is then in the lowered inoperative position shown in FIG. 2.

As obvious, the moving of the side guard assembly from the lowered position of FIG. 2 to the fully raised upright position, shown in -full lines in FIG. l, similarly is performed quickly and easily by raising the members 25 and 27 and causing them to move in opposite directions until the assembly reaches the fully upright position and the locking button 41 snaps into locking engagement with t-he top guard rail member 25. For convenience in manually moving the end link 27, as well as the top member 25, a loop handle 44 is provided on the end side of link 27.

For further facilitating the moving of the assembly from lowered to raised position and reducing even the moderate amount of manual effort which would normally be required in this operation, spring elements are provided for exerting moderate spring pressure tending to urge the assembly upward into raised position against the weight of the individual members. Thus a compression spring 45, indicated in broken lines in FIG. 1, is mounted within the member 28 and is held under compression between the end of the member 28' within the member 28 and a stop at the opposite end of member 2S, and such compression spring exerts a tendency to move the membersfZS, 28 into extended position. Also a spring element, indicated in broken lines at 46 in FIG. 1, is included in the hinge connection 29 between the member 25 and the end link 26. This-spring element 46 is so arranged as to exert a constant tendency to decrease the angularity between the member 25 and the end link 26. Similarly a spring element, indicated at 47 in FIG. 1, is included in the hinge connection between the lower link 23 and main bottom member 13 which exerts a constant tendency to increase the angularity between the memlbers 13 and 23. Thus these spring elements serve to reduce the effort required to raise the side guard assembly `:from the lowered inoperative position to the fully raised and secured operative position.

The assembly, in the lowered inoperative position illustrated in FIG. 2 as previously indicated is readily removed entirely rom the bed frame merely by loosening the clamping screws 19 and lifting the entire assembly from the pair of bracket arms 16, and similarly when the assembly is to be replaced on the bed, it is easily set back in place on lthe bracket arms 16 of the bracket assemblies on the side rail of the bed frame.

I claim:

1. In a folding side guard assembly of the character described for use on a bed, a -single lower horizontal longitudinally-extending guard rail, an upper composite longitudinally-extending guard rail consisting of a pai-r of telescoping members, a pair of links of identical length having hinge connections with the outer ends of said telescoping members respectively and with the ends of said lower guard rail respectively so arranged that said .links will be in vertical position perpendicular to said lower guard rail when said upper composite guard rail is in maximum raised horizontal position, -limit means associated with one of said hinge yconnections for each of said links limiting the angularity between such link and said lower guard rail to 90, and locking means on said upper composite guard rail capable of securing said telescoping members against relative sliding movement with respect to each other when said upper composite gua-rd rail is in its maximum raised horizontal position, whereby said locking means in cooperation with said hinge limit means will enable said composite upper rail to be held firmly in place with respect to said lower guard rail when said composite upper rail is in maximum raised horizontal position.

2. In a folding side guard assembly of the character described for use on a bed, a single lower horizontal longitudinally-extending guard rail, a top composite longitudinally-extending guard rail consisting of a pair of telescoping member, a pair of links of identical length having hinge connections with the outer ends of said telescoping members respectively and with said lower guardI rail so arranged that said links will be in vertical position perpendicular to said lower guard rail when said top composite guard rail is in maximum raised horizontal position, limit means associated with the connections of each of said links with said lower guard rail limiting the angularity between such link and said lower guard rail to 90, an inte-rmediate composite longitudinally-extending guard rail consisting of a pair of telescoping members, the outer ends -of said telescoping members of said intermediate composite guard rail also having hinge connections with said pair of links respectively, and locking means on said upper composite guard rail capable of securing the telescoping members of said upper composite guard rail against relative sliding movement with respect to each other when said upper composite guard rail is in its maximum raised horizontal position.

3. In a folding side guard assembly of the character described for use on a bed, a main horizontally-extending 6 extending guard rail consisting of a pair of larger and smaller diameter telescoping members, a second pair of links of identical length having hinge connections with the outer ends of said telescoping members of said top composite guard rail respectively and with said first guard rail so arranged that said second pair of links will be in vertical position perpendicular to said first guard rail when said top composite guard rail is in maximum raised horizontal position, limit means associated with the conne:-

tions of each of said links of said second pair of links bottom member, a single rst horizontal longitudinallyv such link and lsaid first guard rail to an intermediate second composite longitudinally-extending guard rail consisting of a pair of larger and smaller diameter telescoping members, the outer ends of said telescoping members of said intermediate second composite guard rail also having hinge connections with said second pair of links respectively, a coordinating control coupling bar having its upper end pivotally mounted on one of the telescoping members of one of said composite longitudinally-extending guard rails, a pair of cooperating guide elements for said control coupling bar secured on said first longitudinally-extending guard rail and on said main longitudinally-extending bottom member respectively, said coupling ba-r slidably held by said cooperating guide elements, said cooperating guide elements and said pivotal mounting for said coupling bar so arranged that said coupling bar will be parallel to said first mentioned pair of hinge links and parallel to said second pair of hinge links when all said links are in vertical position, and locking means on said top composite guard rail capable of securing the telescoping members of said top composite guard -rail against relative sliding movement with respect to each other when said top composite guard rail is in its maximum raised horizontal position.

4. In a folding side guard assembly of the character described for use on a bed, a main horizontally-extending bottom member, a single first horizontal longitudinallyextending guard rail, a pair of parallel hinge links of identical length connecting said first guard rail with said main bottom member, a top composite longitudinallyextending guard rail consisting of a pair of telescoping members, a second pair of links of identical length having hinge connections with the outer ends of said telescoping members of said top composite guard rail respectively and with the ends of said first guard rail respectively so arranged that said second pair of links will be in vertical position perependicular to said first guard rail when said top composite guard rail is in maximum raised horizontal position, limit means associated with one of said hinge connections for each of said links of said second pair of links limiting the angularity between such link and said first guard rail to 90, an intermediate second composite longitudinally-extending guard rail consisting of a pair of larger and smaller diameter telescoping members, the outer ends of said telescoping members of said intermediate second composite guard rail also having hinge connections with said second pair of links respectively, a coordinating control coupling bar having its lupper end pivotally mounted on a larger telescoping member of one of said composite longtudinally-extending guard rails, a pair of cooperating pins for said control coupling bar secured on said first longitudinally-extending guard rail and on said main horizontally-extending bottom member respectively, said coupling bar slidably mounted on said cooperating pins, said cooperating pins and said pivotal mounting for said control coupling bar so arranged that said coupling bar will be parallel to said first mentioned pair of links and parallel to said second pair of links when all said links are in vertical position, and locking means on said top composite guard rail capable of securing the telescoping members of said top composite guard rail against relative sliding movement fwith respect to each other when said top composite guard rail is in its maximum raised horizontal position,

5. A folding side guard assembly for use on a bed comprising a main horizontally-extending bottomvmember, means for removably securing said main bottom member on the side rail of the bed frame, a single first horizontal longitudinally-extending guard rail, a pair of parallel hinge links of identical length connecting said first guard rail with said main bottom member, a top composite longitudinally-extending guard rail consisting of a pair of larger and smaller diameter telescoping members, a second pair of links of identical length having hinge connections with the outell ends of said telescopng members of said top composite guard -rail respectively and with said rst guard rail so arranged that said second pair of links will be in vertical position perpendicular to said first guard rail when said top composite guard rail is in maximum raised horizontal position, limit means associated with the connections of each of said links of said second pair of links with said rst guard rail limiting the angularity between such link andsaid first guard rail to 90, an intermediate second longitudinally-extending guard rail consisting of a pair of larger and smaller diameter telescoping members, the outer ends of said telescoping members of said intermediate second composite guard rail also having hinge connections with said second pair of links respectively, a coordinating control coupling bar having its upper end pivotally mounted on the larger diameter telescoping member of said intermediate second composite longitudinally-extending guard rail, a pair of cooperating pins for said control coupling bar secured on said first longitudinally-extending guardrail and on said main horizontally-extending bottom member respectively, said coupling bar slidably mounted on said cooperating pins, said cooperating pins and said pivotal mounting for said control coupling bar so arranged that said coupling bar will be parallel to said rst mentioned pair of hinge links and to said second pair of hinge links when all said links are in vertical position, a spring control locking element carried by the smaller diameter telescoping member of said top composite longitudinally-extending guard rail, and said larger diameter telescoping member of said top composite guard rail having an aperture for engagement by said locking element when said top composite guard rail is in maximum raised horizontal position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 416,102 11/1889 Hannahs 5-331 X 2,587,291 2/1952 Des Rochers 5-331 2,799,869 7/1957 Leone et al 5-331 3,021,534 2/1962 Hausted 5-331 3,097,370 7/1963 Murcott 5-331 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner..

R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A FOLDING SIDE GUARD ASSEMBLY OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED FOR USE ON A BED, A SINGLE LOWER HORIZONTAL LONGITUDINALLY-EXTENDING GUARD RAIL, AN UPPER COMPOSITE LONGITUDINALLY-EXTENDING GUARD RAIL CONSISTING OF A PAIR OF TELESCOPCING MEMBERS, A PAIR OF LINKS OF IDENTICAL LENGTH HAVING HINGE CONNECTIONS WITH THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID TELESCOPING MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY AND WITH THE ENDS OF SAID LOWER GUARD RAIL RESPECTIVELY SO ARRANGED THAT SAID LINKS WILL BE IN VERTICAL POSITION PERPENDICULAR TO SAID LOWER GUARD RAIL WHEN SAID UPPER COMPOSITE GUARD RAIL IS IN MAXIMUM RAISED HORIZONTAL POSITION, LIMIT MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH ONE OF SAID HINGE CONNECTIONS FOR EACH OF SAID LINKS LIMITING THE ANGULARITY BETWEEN SUCH LINK AND SAID LOWER GUARD RAIL TO 90*, AND LOCKING MEANS ON SAID UPPER COMPOSITE GUARD RAIL CAPABLE OF SECURING SAID TELESCOPING MEMBERS AGAINST RELATIVE SLIDING MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER WHEN SAID UPPER COMPOSITE GUARD RAIL IS IN ITS MAXIMUM RAISED HORIZONTAL POSITION, WHEREBY SAID LOCKING MEANS IN COOPERATION WITH SAID HINGE LIMIT MEANS WILL ENABLE SAID COMPOSITE UPPER RAIL TO BE HELD FIRMLY IN PLACE WITH RESPECT TO SAID LOWER GUARD RAIL WHEN SAID COMPOSITE UPPER RAIL IS IN MAXIMUM RAISED HORIZONTAL POSITION. 